Makers Are Building Back Against ICE

Hardware for community defense

Makers across the United States are 3D-printing thousands of whistles and building DIY surveillance tools to monitor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. These activists are utilizing hackerspaces to manufacture physical goods that help residents alert their neighbors to federal raids. The movement relies on decentralized production to distribute gear that commercial manufacturers often avoid.

The hardware catalog includes more than just signaling devices. Builders are producing custom camera mounts and 3D-printed bodycam rigs that allow observers to document federal agents while keeping their hands free. These devices provide a layer of accountability during high-stress encounters in residential neighborhoods.

Technical communities are also focusing on medical resilience by manufacturing handheld eye washers. These tools help protesters and bystanders clear irritants like pepper spray and tear gas from their eyes. The designs are often open-source, allowing anyone with a 3D printer to contribute to the local supply.

• 3D-printed whistles for high-decibel neighborhood alerts
• Bodycam mounts for hands-free documentation of federal agents
• Handheld eye washers to neutralize chemical irritants
• 3D-printed tourniquets for emergency medical response
• Laser-cut stencils for rapid community messaging

The Minneapolis catalyst

The surge in DIY manufacturing follows the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis one month ago. Their deaths occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a federal initiative that has significantly altered daily life across Minnesota. The incident triggered a massive wave of anxiety and a subsequent push for community-led protection tools.

Trump administration border czar Tom Homan recently announced a withdrawal of forces from Minnesota. However, the timeline for this withdrawal remains unclear, and residents remain skeptical of the Department of Homeland Security’s long-term plans. ICE is reportedly leasing new facilities in secret locations across the country to expand its reach.

Makers like B, who operates out of a Midwest hackerspace, describe a "base level of concern" that persists despite official announcements. This anxiety drives the production of practical resistance tools that can be deployed at a moment's notice. The goal is to create a safety net that does not rely on traditional infrastructure or government cooperation.

Hackerspaces have become the primary hubs for this activity. These community centers provide the heavy machinery and technical expertise needed to turn digital designs into physical tools. They offer access to the following equipment:

• 3D printers for rapid prototyping and small-batch manufacturing
• Laser engravers for precision cutting of wood and acrylic
• Workbenches and power tools for heavy assembly
• Electronics stations for soldering and circuit repair

Off grid communication networks

Activists are deploying Meshtastic, an off-grid messaging system, to communicate without relying on cellular towers or the internet. This technology uses low-power mesh routers to create a private network that is difficult for authorities to monitor or shut down. Each router acts as a node, passing text messages across an expansive area.

Woody Poulard, a Meshtastic advocate at NYC Resistor, is leading efforts to establish these networks in New York City. He has distributed zines teaching ICE watch volunteers how to build and maintain their own nodes. The technology is particularly useful in environments where digital privacy is a primary concern.

Users can buy inexpensive routers online and repurpose them with open-source software. Some volunteers are even integrating router nodes directly into their phone cases. This ensures they have a constant connection to the mesh network as they move through the city.

The security of these networks is not absolute. Anyone with the channel password can view the messages, making it a "security through obscurity" model in some cases. Despite this, the off-grid nature of the tech makes it a viable alternative during natural disasters or periods of heavy surveillance.

Mesh networking offers several advantages over traditional apps:

• No cellular data required for long-distance messaging
• Decentralized architecture with no single point of failure
• Low power consumption for long-term battery operation
• Difficult to track compared to standard GPS-enabled smartphones

Resistance through repair and art

In Portland, Oregon, artist Claire Danielle Cassidy is blending technical skill with activism to support local demonstrators. Portland is currently suing ICE over the agency's repeated use of tear gas in the city. Cassidy builds solar-panel power banks to keep protesters' devices charged during extended actions.

Cassidy also promotes light graffiti projectors to display messages on public buildings. She advocates for a concept she calls weaponized cuteness, using bright colors and "girly culture" to combat the fear cycles associated with federal crackdowns. Her work includes laser-cut jewelry and LED-modified clothing that serves as both fashion and political statement.

The practical side of this movement involves fix-it clinics hosted at hackerspaces. These clinics help residents repair technology that federal agents have damaged during raids or protests. Volunteers fix broken doors and shattered smartphone screens to help families recover from the financial impact of enforcement actions.

Cassidy runs a pop-up camp called There U Glow, which teaches queer and femme participants how to work with electronics. She notes that learning to wire an LED coat provides most of the skills needed to set up an off-grid solar array. This educational pipeline builds a community that is technically capable of sustaining itself under pressure.

The movement emphasizes that effective activism does not require constant stress. By making technical tinkering a habit, makers are preparing for future escalations while maintaining their humanity. They are focusing on tangible outcomes like fixed hardware and reliable communication over purely symbolic gestures.

The current landscape for these makers includes:

• Fix-it clinics to repair tech and property damaged in raids
• Solar charging stations for mobile device resilience
• Open-source jewelry with embedded political messaging
• Technical workshops to bridge the gap between hobbyist and activist

Makers are no longer operating in a theoretical space. They are responding to a fraught political climate with concrete engineering solutions. By utilizing existing technologies like LoRa radio and FDM 3D printing, they are building a resilient infrastructure that operates outside of federal control.